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Updated: Sep 16, 2025
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Published on: December 13, 2017
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Work and Activity Impairment in Individuals with Essential Tremor.
Margaret E Gerbasi1, Rodger J Elble2, Holly A Shill3
1Sage Therapeutics, Inc. Cambridge, MA, US.
Summary
Essential tremor (ET) significantly impacts work productivity, with severity directly correlating to impairment. Most employed individuals with ET experience negative effects on their job performance due to tremors.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Essential tremor (ET) affects millions, causing upper limb tremors that impair daily activities, including work.
- Limited research exists on ET's impact on work productivity, with no prior studies using validated instruments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between essential tremor severity and work productivity.
- To utilize validated instruments to assess work impairment in ET patients.
Main Methods:
- Clinic-based data collected from US physicians (March-August 2021).
- Patients assessed using Essential Tremor Rating Assessment Scale (TETRAS), Quality of Life in Essential Tremor (QUEST), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaires.
- Statistical analysis to examine tremor severity and work productivity correlations.
Main Results:
- 420 ET patients completed the WPAI; 165 were employed (80.6% full-time).
- Activity impairment and work impairment were independently associated with tremor severity.
- 85.5% of employed patients reported work impairment; tremor interfered with work for 47% of full-time and 88% of part-time workers.
Conclusions:
- Work impairment in essential tremor is significantly correlated with tremor severity.
- Despite a minority being employed, nearly all ET patients in this cohort reported negative impacts on work performance.
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